2. In the world to come —
[" There is a rest which remaineth for tlic people of God^;" a rest, into which the true Joshua shall introduce them, as soon as ever they shall have comjjleted the period fixed for their abode in this dreary wilderness : and there shall they " remain" for ever : there shall they be as " pillars in the temple of their God, and shall go no more out'." But how shall I represent their happiness in that place where there will be no remains of those evils which they experienced in this world"; and where every blessing which they here sought for, shall be imparted to the utmost extent of their desires, and of their capacities for enjoyment '^
On the other hand, there is a day of retribution for the ungodly, when they shall not only be " convinced of all their imgodly deeds which they have ungodlily committed, and of all their hard speeches which they have spoken against the Lord and his ways, but will have judgment executed upon them" by the Judge of quick and dead^. And what words can ever suffice to give an adequate idea of their misery, when, driven from the presence of their God, and from the congregation of his saints^, they shall be consigned to those regions of misery, where they will take their portion in " the lake that burnetii with fire and brimstone," and " dwell for ever with everlasting burnings ? "
If men would but reflect one moment on these consequences of their impiety, there would be no longer any occasion to descant on the wisdom of seeking after God, or the folly of provoking his displeasure by a life of sin.]
Let us LEARN then,
1 . To form a right estimate of religion —
[Religion is wisdom, even though the whole world should combine to call it folly ]
2. To seek it in due measure —
[To receive it into the head is to little purpose: the proper seat of it is the heart. Nor is it sufficient that we yield a constrained obedience to it : its service should in our estimation be accounted perfect freedom. It is only " when wisdom enters into our heart, and knowledge is pleasant to our so7(l," that we can be said to have received the grace of God in truth. The worldly man is at home in the world : it is his element wherein he moves. And such must religion be to the child of God, his rest, his element, his delight ]
3. To let it have its full operation on our souls —
s Heb. iv. 9.
t ver. 21. with Rev. iii. 12. " Rev. xxi. 4.
" Psal. xvi. 11.
y Jude, ver, 15. ^ Ps. j. 5. Lukexiii. 28.